He read from the city's official plan that said neighbourhoods should be preserved and he asked the council to follow that principle.

Leading off the evening was the most controversial development, an apartment complex proposed between Chestnut and Passmore streets.

Developer Philip O’Halloran said he is going to improve the neighbourhood by tearing down eight dilapidated homes to make room for a three-story complex of 50 apartment units with indoor parking and commercial space on the ground floor.

"What you are doing here is changing the fabric of that neighbourhood," said MacKey.

Others agreed, saying the proposed building will block sunlight for neighbours and is completely out of proportion to its surroundings.

His and similar comments through the evening were punctuated with mild applause from the crowd.

The biggest round of applause, however, came from former city police officer Steve Vaive. He told the meeting he owns two properties on Passmore street across from the proposed apartment.

"I renovate homes," said Vaive. "That's what I do for a living. The homes that he is proposing to tear down, the cost of everything today, you couldn't fix those homes up and rent them affordably.

"I think it's progress," said Vaive. "I think it's a great development. I think we should be behind it," said Vaive as applause built up around him.

Only a few speakers opposed suggestions for an apartment complex of 40 units being proposed to be added to ones recently completed on Harley Street.

Like O’Halloran's development, the issue was the drastic increase in the density of residents the new units will bring to the neighbourhood.

Changing the nature of the surrounding area was also a concern raised about a plan to make a townhouse on the corner of Emerald Drive and Queen Street.

The only development to receive praise was a move of Sports Centre Physiotherapy from the corner of Belvedere Ave and Mount Edward Road to a lot further down on Belvedere. That will allow the business to build a new 7,000 square foot centre.

FACTBOX

The following items were open for public discussion at a meeting Wednesday hosted by Charlottetown City council.

- Request to rezone five properties on Chestnut Street and four on Passmore Street to permit apartment building

- Resquest to rezone properties at 8-16 Harley St. to accommodate a three-storey 40-unit apartment building